Movie Reviews by Cinema Siren

Five Movies with Oscar Buzz

The holidays are a great time to get a head start on Oscar viewing!

December is Oscar time. Filmmakers need to get their movies under the wire so they'll be in contention for this year's awards. Consequently this month is a weird mix of crowd-pleasing mediocrity and painfully long masterpieces that mix horribly with a need for fluff. But what is a movie lover to do? Gotta see them! Having only viewed two of these films (Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook), I'm as in the dark (as it were) as you all are about how truly great these movies are, and how they measure up to each other as far as acting and scripting are concerned. All I know is what I hear, and I'm hearing a lot. All the critics associations are putting together their lists of bests, and they all influence how the Oscars go.   So far, these are …

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Movie Reviews by Cinema Siren

Movie Review: 'Lawless' — Bloody Good Acting

Film has its roots in Virginia.

Coming to the big screen this week is the story of three brothers who made and ran moonshine in Franklin County, Va., based on a book by local novelist Matt Bondurant with a screenplay written by Nick Cave. This indie release, directed by Aussie John Hillcoat, brings together a stellar cast in what ultimately is a beautifully filmed ultra-violent action drama, but a missed opportunity to go deeper.  What we get is a temporarily diverting two hours, but a film that doesn't really stay with you or scream "classic'" after the credits roll. One thing does stay with you long after the twitch-inducing violence recedes from your memory: the acting. Tom Hardy as the laconic and mythically indestructible head of the family is compulsively magnetic …

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Movie Reviews by Cinema Siren

Movie Review: ‘ParaNorman’

Delightfully Not for the Norms

This movie is not for the normal, usual, run-of-the mill cartoon movie fan. No. If your kids who are less fans of Mickey Mouse and more fans of Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas, or your tweens prefer Dr. Who to the Whos in Whoville, or if your family decorates more for Halloween than for Christmas, this is your kind of movie. If this sounds like you, you will be able to relate to and feel sympathy for the hero of ParaNorman. He is not like everyone else. He has trouble fitting in. So many of us horror movie lovers, and fans of zombie, vampire and slasher movies, can relate. Until lately, those kinds of interests just weren't cool.  But Norman has another thing against him. He sees dead people.  Toward the beginning of the story, this …

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Clifton Film Fest Showcases Area Talent

The annual festival of original films will be hosted at the Workhouse Arts Center.

The fourth annual Clifton Film Fest, featuring talent from Robinson Secondary School students to experienced filmmakers alike, takes place on Saturday, July 21. “I love that the community comes together for this,” said Dani Weinberg, who founded the event and organizes it each year. “Anyone can see videos on YouTube, but this gives families the chance to see the films on the big screen.” Twenty-two films will be shown this year at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, according to Weinberg. The festival was initially held in Clifton, but moved to the arts center as participation grew. “Every year the films gets better, the technology gets better and more people participate,” said Weinberg. Hardy's BBQ food truck, Reggae music by Jah Works …

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Weekend Planner

Weekend Planner: Kayaking, Movies, Events and More

Friday, July 13 through Sunday, July 15, 2012

Wondering what to do this weekend?  Let Patch help you plan with our list of local events happening this Friday through Sunday. Mammal Mania Steamy Action Movie Marathon  Collectors Showcase of America  Comcast Outdoor Film Festival  Super Science Saturdays: Weather Japanese Festival of Obon Saya Caporal Dance Competition 2012 “I Do!  I Do!” World War II Living History Pohick Bay Marsh Kayak Tour Second Saturday Art Walk Northern Virginia NTRAK Display Fairfax County Summer Entertainment Series Performances: Library Events: Nature Highlights:

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Opening This Weekend in Kingstowne: 'Prometheus' and 'Snow White'

Patch takes a look at the movies playing at the Kingstowne 16 this weekend.

The following movies are playing this weekend at the Kingstowne 16 cinemas. New this week: Chernobyl Diaries Six adventurous tourists hire a guide to take them to the town abandoned in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. chernobyldiaries.warnerbros.com Chernobyl Diaries: Everyday Horror Flick (CSIcon.org) Madagascar 3 The zoo animals, who are still trying to get home, end up in Europe and join a circus. www.madagascarmovie.com  Madagascar 3 Runs Away to the Circus (LATimes.com) Prometheus A creepy alien movie prequel from Ridley Scott. www.prometheus-movie.com Sci-Fi Prequel Sacrifices Storytelling for Beauty (OregonLive.com) Snow White and the Huntsman A twist on the traditional Snow White fairy tale for adults, starring Kristen Stewart, …

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Opening This Weekend in Kingstowne: 'For Greater Glory'

Eva Longoria and Andy Garcia fight a war in early 20th century Mexico

This weekend in movies playing in Kingstowne, Eva Longoria and Andy Garcia fight against the Mexican government for their religious rights. For Greater Glory Eva Longoria steps off Wisteria Lane and channels The Power and the Glory, joining Andy Garcia in a battle against a secularizing Mexican government in a film based on the real-life Cristero War. http://www.forgreaterglory.com/ "Senseless Action" (San Francisco Chronicle) See the trailers for this movie in the media box to the right. -----------  Also playing in Kingstowne this weekend: The Avengers A group of superheroes, including The Hulk, Captain America, and Iron Man, must fight a menace to humanity--if they can stop fighting each other.  www.marvel.com/Avengers Avenging Marvels…

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Opening This Weekend in Kingstowne: 'Men in Black 3,' 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'

Will Smith travels in time in Men in Black 3

This weekend in movies playing in Kingstowne, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones party like it's 1997, and Judi Dench and Maggie Smith experience their golden years in India. Men in Black 3 Will Smith time travels into the past to save alien-fighting partner Tommy Lee Jones. Josh Brolin plays the younger version of Jones.  www.meninblack.com Men in Black 3 (New York Daily News) The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Geriatric Brits, lead by Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, move to an Indian hotel run by Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel. Culture clashes, at turns serious and hilarious, ensue. Will the Dowager Countess & Co. find love? www.foxsearchlight.com/thebestexoticmarigoldhotel "Smiles Bloom in Comic Charmer" (Times-Picayune) See the trailers for this…

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Opening This Weekend in Kingstowne: 'Dark Shadows'

Dark Shadows and other movies playing at the Kingstowne Regal 16 this weekend.

This weekend in movies playing in Kingstowne, Johnny Depp plays a vampire. Dark Shadows Johnny Depp stars as vampire Barnabus Collins in Tim Burton's comedic homage to the campy '60's drama of the same name. darkshadowsmovie.warnerbros.com Undead in the 1970s (San Francisco Chronicle) See the trailers for this movie in the media box to the right. -----------  Also playing in Kingstowne this weekend: The Avengers A group of superheroes, including The Hulk, Captain America, and Iron Man, must fight a menace to humanity--if they can stop fighting each other.  www.marvel.com/Avengers Avenging Marvels (Metro Weekly) The Cabin in the Woods Five friends go to... (wait for it)... a cabin in the woods in this horror flick. www.…

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Opening This Weekend in Kingstowne: 'The Avengers'

The Avengers and other movies playing at the Kingstowne Regal 16 this weekend.

This weekend, a team of superheroes comes to Kingstowne. The Avengers A group of superheroes, including The Hulk, Captain America, and Iron Man, must fight a menace to humanity--if they can stop fighting each other.  www.marvel.com/Avengers Avenging Marvels (Metro Weekly) See the trailers for this movie in the media box to the right. -----------  Also playing in Kingstowne this weekend: 3 Stooges A comedy starring the nyuk-able Larry, Curly and Moe. www.threestooges.com Review: ‘Soitanly’ and Stinker (San Francisco Chronicle) The Cabin in the Woods Five friends go to... (wait for it)... a cabin in the woods in this horror flick. www.discoverthecabininthewoods.com Reviews: A Genre-Busting, Blood-Soaked Must-See (Patch) Joss Whedon’s Inside …

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